Association between Traumatic Dental Injury, Obesity, and Socioeconomic Status in 6- and 13-Year-Old Schoolchildren

Abstract

Obesity and poverty are independent risk factors in trauma-related morbidity in children as well as adolescents. The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between traumatic dental injury, obesity, and socioeconomic status in 6- and 13-year-old schoolchildren in Davangere city, Karnataka, India. Data were obtained from 1,550 schoolchildren. Dental trauma was classified according to Andreasen's criteria. The medical evaluation assessed the Body Mass Index. Overjet was considered a risk factor when it presented values higher than 3 mm, whereas lip coverage was classified as adequate or inadequate. With appropriate sample weighting, relationships between traumatic dental injury and other variables were assessed using the chi-squared test and multivariable logistic regression. Overall prevalence of dental injuries was 10.52% (3.6% in 6-year-olds and 17.2% in 13-year-olds). Boys experienced more injuries than girls, 11.03% and 9.97%, respectively (p>.05). There was a statistically significant difference between traumatic dental injury and overjet (95% confidence interval [CI] [2.06, 4.78], p < 001) and between traumatic dental injury and inadequate lip coverage (95% CI [1.23, 4.65], p < .001). When adjusted for covariates, the logistic regression model showed that there was a significant association between obese children (p < .05) and dental trauma prevalence. Children from low socioeconomic status had an odds ratio 2.33 (95% CI [1.05, 3.97]) times higher likelihood of having dental trauma than children from medium and upper socioeconomic status. To conclude the results of this study support an association between traumatic dental injuries, obesity, and poverty.